Centre County school boards swear in new members, elect presidents. What to know
Dec. 15 update: This story has been updated after a special meeting to appoint a new Bellefonte Area School District board member.
After an active election season, the newest members of Centre County’s five school boards were sworn in last week. All five boards met to swear in new members, issue new appointments and elect new board presidents.
In the Bellefonte Area School District, the board appointed a new member after the resignation of longtime member Jeff Steiner.
The Centre Daily Times has rounded up who’s new on Centre County’s school boards and how to contact them.
State College Area
State College Area’s newest board members were sworn in on Dec. 4. Members Amy Bader and Gretchen Brandt were incumbents, with Anne Demo, Dan Kolbe and Aaron Miller joining the board for the first time. All five new members ran as part of the “Slate for State” PAC.
President and vice president
At the board reorganization meeting, Amy Bader was voted in as president, taking over for Jackie Huff. Deborah Anderson was elected vice president.
How to contact the members
New board members can be contacted at their emails below or at all-board@scasd.org.
Amy Bader: alb50@scasd.org
Gretchen Brandt: gsb13@scasd.org
Anne Demo: axd51@scasd.org
Dan Kolbe: dxk50@scasd.org
Aaron Miller: axm68@scasd.org
Bellefonte Area
Newly elected board members Patrick Buck, Timothy Kessling and Jennifer Barnhart were sworn in alongside incumbents Donna Smith and Kimberly Weaver. Weaver, Kessling, Barnhart and Buck ran as part of the “Win for Bellefonte” group during the board’s Dec. 5 reorganization meeting.
The board also has another new member following board member Jeff Steiner’s resignation at the Dec. 5 meeting. Steiner was not present at the meeting but his resignation was unanimously approved by the board. Steiner did not give a reason for his resignation and did not respond to requests for comment.
At a Thursday night meeting to appoint a new member, the board voted 6-1 to appoint former board member Nate Campbell to Steiner’s vacant seat. Board member Timothy Kessling was the only opposing vote and board member Donna Smith was absent from the meeting. Six people applied for the position, including former school board candidate Darrell Sharp and former board member Marie Perini. Candidates were interviewed individually by the board about their goals and experience pertaining to the school board.
President and vice president
At the reorganization meeting, Jon Guizar was voted board president and Weaver was elected vice president.
How to contact the members
New board member emails are listed below. To contact the whole board email boarddl@basd.net.
Jennifer Barnhart: jbarnhart@basd.net
Patrick Buck: pbuck@basd.net
Timothy Kessling: tkessling@basd.net
Donna Smith: dsmith1@basd.net
Kimberly Weaver: kweaver@basd.net
Penns Valley Area
Daniel Pick, Domer Smeltzer, Dan Hall, Kim Kellerman-Domin and Scott Butler were sworn in as Penns Valley Area School board members during the board’s reorganization meeting. Butler and Smeltzer were incumbents, with Smeltzer serving as president and Butler as vice president for the past year.
President and vice president
Domer Smeltzer was reelected president with Marcia Kimler elected as vice president.
How to contact the members
To contact board members, email board@pennsvalley.org.
Bald Eagle Area
At the Bald Eagle Area Dec. 6 meeting, new members Erika Danneker, Brandi Bartley and Amanda Hepfer were sworn in alongside incumbents Jason Penland and Molly Hoover.
President and vice president
During the board’s reorganization meeting, Tina Greene was reelected as president alongside Molly Hoover as vice president.
How to contact the members
Erika Danneker: erika.danneker@beasd.net
Brandi Bartley: brandi.bartley@beasd.net
Amanda Hepfer: amanda.hepfer@beasd.net
Jason Penland: jason.penland@beasd.net
Molly Hoover: molly.hoover@beasd.net
Philipsburg Osceola
During the board’s Dec. 6, new members Edward Vancas and Alexander Boumerhi were sworn in alongside incumbents Timothy Bainey, Linda Bush and Todd Jeffries.
President and vice president
Bainey and Baney-Shaw were reelected to serve as president and vice president.
How to contact the members
Timothy Bainey: t.bainey@pomounties.org
Alexander Boumerhi: a.boumerhi@pomounties.org
Linda Bush: l.bush@pomounties.org
Todd Jeffries: t.jeffries@pomounties.org
Edward Vancas: e.vancas@pomounties.org
